Reinforced concrete structure



mis-i April 25, 1944- D. H. wHlTEHlLL. 2,347,449

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE Filed July 2, 1943 Patented Apr. 25, 1944UNITED STATES PATENT DFFIICE I agirait Y Y REINFORCED. CONCRETESTRUCTURE David H. Whitehu, Wichita, Fans, Tex., assignor to WhitehillEngineering Company, Wichita Falls, Tex., a partnership 1 ApplicationJuly 2, 1943, Serial No. 493,273

l 7 ciaims. (c1. 'z2- 109) This invention relates to reinforcing meansfor concrete structures.

The invention is particularly `concerned with improved reinforcing meansfor use in concrete structures which are subject to substantial strainsand stresses in all directions, as occasioned in structures subject totwisting or contortion forces for example, in concrete ships and planecarriers, ships keel and rib construction,

long spans of structure subject to abnormal loads and the like.

Various forms of reinforcing have heretofore been used in concretestructures and many of which probably have been efficient with the usualconcrete of the rock variety which as is generally known .possessessubstantial strength in itself and thus is capable of withstandingsubstantial loads, strains and stresses with a relatively small amountof reinforcement. On the other hand, however, rock concrete isrelatively heavy as a result of which, the weight of long spanstructures will require considerable reinforcement to sustain thestructure particularly in the region subject to the greatest tension asfor instance the base and end edge portions.

I have found that by the use of the improved with baked clay aggregateinstead of with the g usual rock aggregate and also with considerableless weight in reinforcement, producing on the whole a remarkably lightand strong structure for use in absorbing and withstanding stresses andstrains from any angle without rupture. Baked clay as an aggregate inconcrete structures is obviously as strong a medium as rock but with thereinforcing means of the present application it has been found toproduce structures capableof sustaining loads comparable with the usualreinforced rock concrete and with considerable saving in costs andweight. Such features are of considerable importance .in the concreteart generally and particlarly in the construction of ships and likestructures.

A primary object of the invention is therefore to provide an improvedreinforcing means. for concrete structures capable of equallywithstandingstresses andstrains applied thereto from any angle,` wherebyrelatively light aggregate such as baked clay products may be used inthe structure with considerable saving in weight of the reinforcementrequired.

A further object of the invention is the provision of reinforcing meansfor light concrete structures which provides maximum reinforcement' inthe zones of greatest strains'or stresses thereby avoiding rupture andweakening' of such rela'- tively light structures under loads..

A still furtherv object of the invention is the provision of improvedconcrete reinforcing means which is relatively simple in constructionand which is capable of accurate and simple installation with thevminimum of time and labor.v

For a morecomple'te understanding of theY objects and nature of theinvention,reference will be had to the following detailed description,ltaken in connection with'the accompanying drawing wherein-. Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of 'a portion of a reinforcing structure inaccordance withia preferred embodiment of the invention, a mass ofpoured concrete being shown in this view, in which apart of thereinforcing structure is imbedded-- .f

` Fig. 2' is an' end elevation of Fig. l showing the poured concrete insection rearward ofthe fore? most rings. y

Fig. 3 is an .enlarged fragmentary view .of the lower series ofreinforcing elements asf observed substantially from the jpositionfofline 3 3 of li'ig..1.,andl j Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view inelevation showing the relationship ofcertain of the larger rings and theassociated angle bars connecting the same.

The reinforcing structure comprises groups of steel rings I0, lI I,I2'and I3. E'ach group of rings comprises laterally spaced series Ia, IIa, l2a and I3a, with the rings I2a vertically alined with the ringsIIlaand with the rings I3a vertically alined with therings IIa'. Theaxes of corresponding rings of the respective series of each group aretransversely alined and thekaxes are preferably equally spaced bothhorizontally` and vertically, with thel spacing of such axes such thatthe rings of each series substantially overlap longitudinally andtherings in each group correspondingly vertically overlap the rings of anadjacentgroup as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

f It is to be notedhowever, that therings in each series Ilia, Ila, 12aand I3a, overlap in contacting relation whilethe rings ofthe groupsvertically overlap in transverse spacedrelation.

.The rings are interconnected by. transverse parallel steel angle barsI4 which, as more clearly shown in Fig. l, engage the rings within theirintersecting portions and thereby tie the rings of the different groupsas well as the rings of the different series` together.

The angle bars are welded or otherwise suitably connected to the ringsat their points of engagement therewith.

It is of course to be understood that the showings in Figs. 1 and 2 areonly fragmental and that the rings and bars in tle arrangement shownwill continue vertically depending upon the height or vertical extent ofthe particular concrete construction desired.

It is to be particularly noted that the rings of group I as well as theend mvost rings of all the group due to their absence of overlap withother rings at the bottom and ends of the structure with a correspondinglack'of bars I4 result in insufficient reinforcement and since thegreatest tension is in these locations and particularly at the base ofthe structure, means are provided which further reinforce the concretein such locations. By the reinforcing means just described a relativelylight aggregate such as baked clay products may be used instead of theusual rock aggregate.

The zones of the structure thus formed which are subject to greateststresses or strains are sufficiently reinforced by the means hereinshown and described to provide for maximum loads on any part of thestructure while providing a structure that is relatively light in weightas compared with similar constructions made of rock concrete. Suchfurther reinforcing means include additional cooperating groups of ringsI5, each group comprising laterally spaced series of overlappingrelatively small rings Ia which are vertically alined with the series ofrings I Ia, as shown at the bottom of the structure illustrated in Figs.1 and 2. The rings I5 and I5a, as shown, may extend along the horizontaland vertical edge portions of a structure and are interconnected by'angle bars I6 within the angles of their overlapping portions withadditional argle bars I1 preferably secured within the same overlappingportions but intermediate the bars I6.

As will be noted in Fig. l every other angle bar I4 uniting the rings Iaat their lowermost overlapping portions extends also within theoverlapping portions of the smaller rings I 5, whereby the groups ofsmaller rings are effectively tied to the associated groups of largerrings. Additional angle bars may be provided at the intersection of thesmaller rings with the larger rings as is indicated at I8 in Fig. 1.

The improved reinforcing structure provides in effect skeleton formbarrels which are interlocked at substantially regularly spaced pointsthereby creating continuous and uniform tension and stresses in alldirections throughout the structure provided. 'Ihe steel angle bars alsoincrease the compression in the rings of the skeleton barrels, withal]permitting the use o fbaked clay ingredients instead of the usual stoneaggregate, which is highly desirable in the building of ships and likestructures from reinforced concrete.

While the reinforcing structure is shownonly in a vertically disposedconcrete wall or keel structure, it is obvious that it will finddesirable application in other concrete constructions such as floors,roofs, piers and the like.

The improved reinforcing structure as herein disclosed is particularlyapplicable to the building of concrete ships, the rib constructionsthereof, and particularly the keel, all of which are subject to varyingpressures with twisting and tortional stresses and strains in; use'which are largely and satisfactorily absorbed by this light weightreinforcing structure.

It is of course to be understood that the steel rings may be of anysuitable diameter found desirable in any particular concreteconstruction and the rings are preferably of the same diameter except atthe base and ends of the construction 'where relatively smaller rings,as atA I5, are disposed intermediate the larger rings. The rings may becircular or rectangular in cross section and it is found that for mostsatisfactory reinforcing the smaller rings should be approximately twothirds the diameter of the larger rings.

Upon consideration of Figs. 1 and 2 it will be readily observed that thelarger rings together with their connecting angle bars provide areinforcement for the major and internal portion of the concrete masswhile some of such larger rings provide substantially increasedreinforcement at the base and ends of the concrete mass, Wherebyaconcrete employing baked clay aggregate or the like may be used towithstand loads, stresses and strains fully commensurate with reinforcedrock concrete heretofore used.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated a bearing or support B at one end of thestructure and visualizing another support some, distance to the right,it will b e understood that if the base portion intermediate suchsupports is sufficiently reinforced,v the entire structure will behighly stable even though the interior of the concrete/mass is notreinforced for the usual extent, as by girders vand the like.

Thus the importance of the smaller rings associated with the largerrings as disclosed will be readily appreciated and by the use of which amuch lighter concrete material may be used without sacrificing the loadbearing strength of the structure produced. Through the overlapping ofthe rings horizontally and Verticallyas disclosed and the use of theangle bars therewith, a unitary reinforcing framework is provided and bythe connection of certain of the anglevbars interconnectingV the largerrings with certain of the smaller rings, the group of smaller rings iseffectively tied to the adjacent groupjof larger rings. It will ofcourse be understood'that the overlap of the rings may be greater orless than is illustrated and while the horizontal and verti- `calspacing of the larger rings is preferably the same, it need not be so.

While I have disclosed but a single specific embodiment of theinvention, such is to be considered as illustrative, and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the subjoinedclaims.

rWhat Iclaim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. Reinforcing `means for concrete structures comprising a plurality ofseries of individual steel rings the center lines of the rings oftherespective series being in spaced parallel relation, the rings of eachseries being in overlapping engagement and the rings of each' seriesbeing in spaced overlappingrelation to the rings of the adjacent series.4

2. Reinforcing means for concrete structures comprising a group of steelrings including a plurality of series thereof, the rings of each seriesoverlapping in the direction of their center line, the rings of eachseries being laterally spaced from the rings of adjacent: series, lasecond group of rings including laterally vspaced series thereofextending in part between the rings of the respective series of theiirst group, and smaller steel rings disposed between the series ofrings of the rst group substantially in line with the rings of therespective series of the second group.

3. Reinforcing means for concrete structures comprising two groups ofsteel rings, the rings of each group having their centers in ahorizontal plane with the plane of one group parallel with and invertically spaced relation to that of the other group, the rings in eachgroup including laterally spaced series thereof with the rings in eachseries overlapping in a longitudinal direction, the series of rings ofthe two groups vertically overlapping in spaced relation, and angle barsextending within the overlapping portions of the rings and securedthereto.

4. Reinforcing means according to claim 3 together with laterally spacedseries of smaller steel rings extending between the series of rings ofone of said groups in vertical alinement with the series of rings of theother group.

5. Reinforcing means for concrete structures comprising a plurality ofvertically disposed steel rings arranged in groups with the centers ofthe rings of each group in a horizontal plane and with the planes of therespective groups in uniform vertically spaced relation, the rings ofeach group including a plurality of laterally spaced series thereof, therings of each series overlapping in a horizontal direction and theseries of rings of the respective groups overlapping in a verticaldirection, angle bars extending laterally through the rings within theoverlapping portions thereof and secured thereto, and a group of smallersteel rings including a plurality of laterally spaced series thereofdisposed between the series of larger rings of the lowermost group.

6. Reinforcing means for concrete structures comprising a group of steelrings having their axes in a horizontal plane, the rings of the groupincluding a plurality of laterally spaced series thereof, the rings ofeach series overlapping in a horizontal direction, successive groups oflike rings including laterally spaced series thereof verticall7overlapping each other and the series of the first group in laterallyspaced relation, a group of smaller steel rings including a plurality oflaterally spaced series thereof disposed between and in laterally spacedrelation to the 20 series of the rst group and in vertical alinement 25overlapping portions thereof and secured thereto.

7. Reinforcing means according to claim 6 wherein certain of said barsare common to certain of the larger rings of the first group and ocertain of the smaller rings of the last group.

DAVID H. WHITEHILL.

